City Council session held: Iran ready to supply 1,100 megawatts power to Pakistan: CG

To minimise the energy crisis in Pakistan, Iran is ready to supply at least 1,100 megawatts of electricity. This was stated by Masood Muhammad Zamani, Consul General of Islamic Republic of Iran, while addressing the members of City Council on Wednesday, during its general session, held at City Council Hall at Old KMC Building with Naib Nazim Nasrin Jalil in the chair.
The consul general, who was invited by the Council to offer the house's condolence over the loss of many precious lives in the recent terrorist attack in Sistan, said his country, which has already been supplying over 35 megawatts to Gwadar was ready to supply additional 1,100 megawatts to Pakistan.
The agreement for the additional supply of power, which was signed by President Asif Ali Zardari with his counterpart Mehmud Ahmadinejad, in his recent visit to Iran, would not only help Pakistan come out of the severe power crisis but also boost the existing friendly relations.
While offering his country's support for cultural promotion in Karachi, Zamani said in this city, which is mostly seen as a place for trade and economic activities, the preservation and promotion of its rich culture was also needed along with other developments.
Appreciating the roles of Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah, Governor Ishratul Ibad and City Nazim Syed Mustafa Kamal for their due shares in the infrastructural development of the metropolis, Zamani said Karachi and Tehran were the most important cities for Muslim Ummah.
Condemning the terrorist attacks in both countries, he said terrorists and their supporters would not be succeeded in destroying the decades old social, economic, cultural and historic relations between the two Islamic countries.
Earlier, the Convenor who welcomed the guest in the House, said the people of past generation here in Karachi, which is now the first and 7th largest city of Muslim Ummah and the world respectively, were used to speak Persian as their language, showing the historic relations between Persian and other dialects in the subcontinent.
While proposing a delegation of the Council members to visit Tehran to see the infrastructure development there, she expressed her gratitude to the Iranian engineers who played vital role in some development projects of the city. Asif Siddiqui, leader of the House, while greeting the consul general, said the historic ties between the two countries would not be affected by terrorist attacks.
"We salute the role of Khomeini, the pioneer of the Islamic revolution in Iran, who brought democracy in the country at a time when the dictatorship was all around in his homeland," said Shamim Mumtaz Wasi, a member from Awam Dost Group.
She also praised the Iranian contribution in the infrastructural development projects such as Fatima Jinnah Bridge and Shaheed-e-Millat Road, constructed during the regime of Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto who, as she said, worked closely with Iran in technology and industrial fields.
"The ruling party of Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) gives importance to Iran as the Quaid-e-Awam (Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto) and his wife Nusrat Bhutto, an Iranian, had strong relations with Iran and both the countries worked closely in all sectors," Jumman Darwan, deputy parliamentary leader said, adding that no one could separate the two countries who have lots of commonalties, through terrorist attacks.
Other members of the House including, Rafiq Ahmed from Al-Khidmat Panel, Dr Zia, of Khidmatgar and Arshad Qureshi of Haq Parast Group, also greeted the guest and praised the historic relation between the two countries. Meanwhile, the Convenor presented the Council's shield to the consul general who presented a book, written by Khomeini, to the Convenor. Rafiq Ahmed also gifted a copy of Holy Quran to the guest. Later, the Convenor adjourned the session sine die.